Bag frame side catch



.l\m;14,1932. WAHELMANN 1,862,621

BAG .FRAME` SVIDE CATCH Filed Feb. 25, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1932 Unirse err WILLIAM A. HEILMANN, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 1\TEW.=1RK BIVET WOR-KS, OF NEVI AE1-K, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY :BAG FRAME SIDE CATCH Application filed February 23, 1932. Serial No. 594,464.

This invention relates to an improved bagframe fastener, and has reference, more particularly, to a novel, attractive and easily manipulated side catch fastener for the frames of traveling-bags and similar articles of luggage.

rlhis invention has for its principal object to provide a strong, simply constructed and durable side catch structure, the operative parts of which move in direct perpendicular paths, and are so arranged as to be yieldably maintained in either their locked or released positions relative to a perforate or slotted latching plate with which they cooperate; and the invention has for a further ohject to provide side catch means which, by reason of its novel construction and mode of operation, is subject to little risk of accidental injury or disorganization under the rough handling conditions to which articles of luggage are frequently submitted.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become apparent in the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanj-,iing drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows one form of the novel side catch in side elevation as mounted on a bagframe, the latter being` in longitudinal section, and the side catch being represented in its operative locked condition; 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but with the side catch shown in its released condition; Fig 3 isa transverse section, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken on line 1 -1 in 1; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig; 1, but showing a somewhat modiiied arrangement of latch means.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the novel side catch structure; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section there` through, taken on line 7 7 in said Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 isr a transverse section of a further modied form of the side catch structure, taken on line 88 in Fig. 9; and Fig. 9 is a horizontal section thereof, take-n on line 9-9 in said Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to l of the drawing, in the embodiment thereby illustrated, the novel side catch structure comprises a body portion 10. This body portion 10 in this form of the side catch consists in a casting or solid block of desired shape, the same being adapted to be suitably secured by fastening screws 11, or any other suitable fastening means, to the external frame member 12. Extending through said body portion 10 are vertical openings or guideways 13. The external frame member 12 is also provided with 65 openings 141 therethrough which are aligned with the openings or guideways 13 of said body portion 10, when the latter is operatively secured to said external frame member 12.

The reference character 15 indicates a ver- 70 tically movable hollow crown member, preferably shaped to conform to the contours of said body-portion 10, and so as to tit tel-escopically over the same. The longitudinal side flanges of said crown-member 15 are 75 preferably cutaway to provide arcuate openings or notches 16 engageable by the fingers of the operator, when it is desired to manipulate said crown-member for actuation of the side catch. 1f desired, and to further assure 8o the grip of the lingers upon the crown-member 15 when manipulating the same, the sides of the body portion 10, which lie contiguous to said notches 16 of the crown-member 15, may be somewhat indented, as at 17, to give clearance for the operators fingers to adequately engage the margins of said notches.

Secured to the top wall of said crownmember 15, as by the upper riveted end portions 13, or by any other suitable means, are downwardly extending latch bolts 19 which slidably extend. through the openings or guideways 13 of the body portion 10, andv through the openings 1a of the external frame member 12, to normally project inwardly of the latter, and so as to engage through the slot or opening 2O of a latching plate 21, which is affixed to the internal frame member 22 that is hinged to and closes into the external frame member 12, in the manner wellknown to those familiar with the bag-frame and similar art.

Said body-portion 10 is provided with laterally disposed openings 23 extending from a side thereof inwardly to join the openings or guideways 13. Arranged in these openings 23 are yieldable detent means to engage said latch bolts 19. Said detent means, in one form, each comprises a check-piece 21, the rounded nose of which yieldably engages in one or the other of two vertically spaced apart indented seats or sockets andl 26 with which the side of said latch bolts 19 are each provided. Said check-pieces 21 are yieldably backed by compression springs 27 which are purchased against screws 28, the latter being threaded into the outer ends of said openings 23 so as to close the same, thus at the same time placing the springs 27 under compression.

When the internal frame member 22 is closed into the external frame member 12, the latching plate 21 is disposed beneath the top of said external frame member, with its opening or slot 2O aligned beneath the latch bolts 19 which, when the crown-member 15 is thrust downward over the body-portion 10, are caused to enter said latching plate opening or slot 20, and thus interlock the frame members against separation. When the latch bolts 19 are thus downwardly thrust into engagement with the latching plate 21, the same are yieldably retained in such disposition by the engagement of the springpressed check-pieces 2-1 in and with the upper seats or sockets 25 of said latch bolts, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3.

vWhen it is desired to release the lat-ch bolts 19 from engaged relation to the latching plate 21 to permit opening of the frame members, the crown member 15 is manipulated by engaging the side openings or notches thereof with the lingers, whereupon the operator may pull the crown member vertically upward to thereby draw the latching bolts 19 upwardly through the body-portion 10, thus retracting said bolts from the slot or opening 2O of the latching plates. In this operation, the detent check-pieces 2li will yield so as to pass out of the upper sockets or seats 25 and thereafter engage the lower sockets or seats 26 to yieldably hold the bolts and crown-member in the raised and re- A leased position, see Fig. 4.

Vhile I have shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the latching bolts 19 as comprising a pair of separate members, such arrangement is not essential, since the same may be combined in the form of an integral U-shaped locking element, as indicated at 19 in Fig. 5.

In order to prevent separation of the locking bolts 19 from the body-portion 10, limiting stop means is provided, preferably in the form of laterally projecting stop-pins 29 carried by said locking bolts to arrest upward or withdrawing movement thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a somewhat modied form and construction ofthe novel side catch device, which still embodies, however, the principles of construct-ion and mode of operation of this invention. In this modiied form of the side catch, instead of making the main body portion as a solid or cast body, I furnish the same in a form consisting of sheet metal stampings, comprising a hollow body 30 having clinching lugs 31 to extend through the external frame member 12 to clench over the inner 0r under side thereof, and serving to secure the body 3() thereto. Arranged within the hollow body 30 is an inlay member, preferably comprising a bottom plate 32 and side plates 33. One of said side plates is cut out at its upper margin to provide seats 34 for detent springs, portions of the removed metal being preferably bent downwardly and inwardly to provide guard tongues 35 adjacent to said seats 34. The crown member 15 and its latching bolts 19 are of the same structure as above described. The detent means comprises the check-pieces 24 to selectively engage in the sockets 25 and 26 of the latching bolts, and the springs 23 have their outer ends engaged in said spring seats 34., and being disposed with their bodies lying between the top wall of the hollow body 30 and the gua-rd tongues 35, whereby the same are retained against displacement from operative relation to the latching bolts and their sockets or seats. It will be obvious that the mode of operation of this modified form of the device is the same as already hereinabove described.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing, I have shown therein another modified form of my novel side catch device. This form is similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein the body is a hollow sheet metal stamping, comprising the hollow shell 30 which is provided with the inlay having bottom plate 32 and side plates B3. In this modified structure I have shown another form of detent means, the same comprising a wire spring member 36, suitably secured to the inlay bottom plate 32 by an anchor strap 37, which is pressed out of the plate, and beneath which the medial portion of the spring member 36 is secured. Said spring member includes oppositely extending resilient arms 38 and 39, the free end portions of which contact with the sides of the latching bolts 19, so as to selectively and yieldably engage notches or seats 40 provided therein, and whereby the latching bolts are retained in the raised or lowered posit-ions as the case may be. It will be understood that the method of manipulating the crown member 15 which carries the latching bolts 19 is the same as hereinbefore set forth in connection with the previously described constructions.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention provides a very simple and yet very eficient side catch device, as well as one easy to manipulate by direct upward and downward pressure upon the exteriorly exposed crown member thereof. The structure is exceedingly simple, involving but a minimum of parts, and especially requiring but few movable parts. No hinges, pivotal connections or the like are utilized, and consequently there is substantially no risk of the mechanism making up the side catch being disorganized or otherwise getting out of order, especially when subjected to the hard usage which traveling bags and similar articles of luggage are ordinarily subjected to.

I am aware that many changes could be made, other than those already specified, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, and consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A side catch for bag-frames or the like, comprising a main body for fixed attachment to a frame member, said main body having vertically disposed guideway means, latching bolt means capable of vertical rectilinear sliding movement through said guideway means into and out of holding engagement with a cooperating frame member, a manipulatable crown-member external to said main body and to which said latching bolt means is secured, and yieldable detent means cooperative with said latching bolt means to hold the latter selectively in raised or lowered position.

2. A side catch for bag-frames or the like, comprising a main body for fixed attachment to a frame member, said main body having vertically disposed guideway means, latching bolt means capable of vertical rectilinear sliding movement through said guideway means into and out of holding engagement with a cooperating frame member, a hollow crown-member to normally envelop said main body but being capable to vertical outward bodily movement relative thereto, means for attaching said latching bolt means to said crown-member so that the same is movable therewith, and yieldable detent means cooperative with said latching bolt means to hold the latter selectively in raised lor lowered position.

3. A side catch for bag-frames or the like, comprising a main body for fixed attachment to a frame member latching bolt means ver- 05 tically slidable through said main body into and out of holding engagement with a cooperating frame member, a hollow crownmember to normally envelop said main body but being capable of vertical outward movement relative thereto, means for attaching said latching bolt means to said crown-member so that the same is movable therewith, yieldable detent means mounted in said main body to cooperate with said latching bolt means, and said latching bolt means having vertically spaced detent receiving sockets selectively engageable by said detent means to yieldably retain said latching bolt means in frame holding or releasing position as the ease may be.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of February, 1932.

WILLIAM A. HEILMANN. 

